Vehicle for the transport of artillery and especially antiaerial artillery



Oct. 27, 1931. u. PAVESI VEHICLE FOR THE TRANSPORT OF ARTILLERY AND ESPECIALLY ANTIAERIAL ARTILLERY Filed May 27, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 27, 1931. u PAVES] 1,829,669

VEHICLE FOR THE TRANSPORT 0F ARTILLERY AND ESPECIALLY ANTIAERIAL ARTILLERY.

Filed May 27, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Eggs . 7% veal u /N ve/v 'rdL wwM Oct. 27, 1931. u. PAVESI 1,829,669

VEHICLE FOR'THE TRANSPORT OF ARTILLERY AND ESPECIALLY ANTIAERIAL ARTILLERY Filed May 2'7, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Oct. 27, 1931 UNITED STATES UGO PAVESI, or MILA ITALY VEHICLE r03. THE TRANSPORT or ARTILLERY AND ESPECIAL ARTILLERY' Application filed; May 27, 1930, Serial No. esaaoo, and in Italy March 31, 1930.

The present invention relatesto' a special vehicle suitable for the transport of artillery (more particularly of antiaerial artillery) and adapted to be readily converted into a base plate for the gun when the gun has to be positioned for firing. V

The vehicle according to the invention shows the following main characteristic features:

1. It can be trailed on ordinary roads and across country.

2. It can readily be transformed into a baseplate for the gun when the latter has got to be positioned for firing, the gun being then arranged at a minimum height above the ground and yet possessing a horizontal firing sector of 360 and a maximum elevation (about 90,") i

3. In the conversion said above the vehicle frame, which has got to form the center portion of the baseplate, is landed down onto the ground, while the vehicle wheels (which may be two or more in number) without being taken down or separated from the complex can be moved out of the way so as to allow of the vehicle frame being gradually lowered and to leave a completely free space around about the gun.

Figs. 1 to A represent a particular form of so embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing the vehicle in travelling conditions.

Fig. 2 is a corresponding rear view.

Fig. 3 shows the complex in firing conditions.

Fig. 4: is a plan view of the vehicle complex. (The lower portion in the figure shows the modification illustrated in Fig.

Fig. 5 represents a modified arrangement for moving the rear wheels out of the way.

Fig. 6 shows a further modified arrangement for bringing the rear wheels out of the way. 7

on the vehicle frame A, the gun U and the gun-frame V are mounted; the gun-frame maybe of the column type so as to enable an horizontal firing sector of 360 and an elevation of 90.

5o The vehicle frame A is carried on four LY ANTIAERIAL wheels, B-B being the front and CC the rear wheels.

The front wheels 13-13 are supported by an axle D which can revolve through 360 about a vertical center pivot and can further swing in horizontal direction so as to allow of travelling across country.

The set F (comprisingi front wheels BB, axle D, steering, pivot, etc.) is connected to the frame A by means of a hinge G and is locked in' travelling position (Fig. 1) by a removable bolt I-I.

The rear wheels -C'.C are supported by two arms E-E.v forming a double right- .angle bend, the arms being pivoted to the vehicle frame A through hinges NN'.

Two strong springs M-M' secured to the vehicle frame A rest on the arms E-E when the latter are in their travelling position (Fig. 1).

Let us now imagine that the group F carrying the forward wheels and the arms EE' carrying the rear wheels be fittedwith suitable hydraulic or mechanical means adapted to permit or to operate the rotation of the group F for the forward wheels and of the arms EE for the rear wheels about their hinges G respectively N-N (such means may consist, for instance in a toothed sector z connected to the movable parts carry- 0 ing the wheels, and in a worm z and gears operated by a hand-crank L). It will be seen that, after disengagement of the bolt H and of the suport I for the springs M, the frame A and the gun mounted thereon can be gradually lowered on to the ground, while the wheels take up the positions indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The complex will thus occupy the position shown in Fig. 2.

The operating mechanism above said may also serve to level the frame A in longitudinal direction by lowering the forward or the rear portion more or less till the horizontal position is attained.

Likewise, the wheels themselves and their supports may be utilized as reaction means for checking the recoil when the gun is fired in forward or rear longitudinal direction.

Shouldthis, however, entail unduly high 100 stresses on the said parts or on the operating means by which they are connected to the frame A, feet aa respectively bb may be fitted to the said frame itself, the feet height being adjustable by means of screws c-d--.

For the levelling-in cross direction as well as for the checking of the recoil when firing in cross direction, auxiliary arms eeand ff are provided, these arms being pivotally attachedto the sides of the frame A- so that they can be'left in vertical'pos'ition when the vehicle is in travelling order (Figs. 1 and 2) and can be lowered into the horizontal position e'e respectively f'f-- when the frame is resting onthe ground and the gun mustbe fired.

Draw rods g and connecting pieces --7L- serve to rigidly connect the arms @f to the frame A in horizontal position.

The ends of the arms --ef are fitted with teeth z'Z the height of which is likewisev adjustable by means of screws.

The feet a-b and i'Z-may be fitted with vertical blades which, when driven into the soil, prevent the complex from sliding when the gun is fired.

On the arms e eandff plates mw may be placed which,when the complex is in firing position, form in connection with the frame A a perfectly level and clear platform round about the gun.

Of course when the screws c-cZ- (or equivalent device) have a sufiicientstroke to allow of the feet Clr.b' to reach the ground while the frame A still occupies its higher position above the ground (travelling position) (Fig. 1), the frame A'can be lowered or raised by operating the said screws c-cZ- (or equivalent device) by means of suitable hand-cranks p--. In this case the devices abovementioned,serving to swing the group F with its forward wheels B-B and the rear arms Fl -E with their rear wheels, C-C, may be dispensed with] It will namely sufiice to remove the front bolt H and the support Iby whichthesprings M-M rest on the arms 'E--E to obtain that, the frame A being lowered by the operation of the screws -c-d, the-front and rear wheels shall gradually swing about the hinges G respectively NN till they occupy the position B--B respectively G" C"-- (Fig. 3). V

When the frame A has been landed onto the soil, the rear wheels, can be readily brought into their final position, CC'- (Figs. 3 and 4) by hand.

The two spindles may bereplaced by a single axle 0 indicated in dotted lines on Fig. 4. In this case the swing of the wheels CC from their position CC into the position C-C' must be effectedin downward direction (circle sector X) instead of in upward direction (circle sector y) relatively to the frame A.

Fig. 5 represents a modified arrangement of the vehicle, and more precisely an altered arrangement for bringing the rear wheels from the position CC into the position CC Thetwo wheels C-C are carried on axle 0 connected to two supports P. The supports P are arranged behind the wheels and have two rollers-Q, each, the rollers being adapted to run in two guides or rails R connected to the frame A; the guides R extend parallel tothe frame A till the =rear end of the frame and then make an upward bend.

' It is obvious that, if the two supports P are moved in backward direction, the axle O and the wheels C C will gradually ass into the position 0' respectively C' and the frame A will be landed onto the ground.

The movement of thesupports P along-the guides or rails R can be obtainedby means of two rack pinions S engaging two racks which extend the Whole length'of the rails R.

The rack-pinions S can be actuated by means of ahandcrank T and suitable gears.

Also in the case of Fig. 5 the rails R-and the wheels (in their position CC-') may constitute a means for levellingthe complex in crossdirection and for-checking the recoil when firing incross direction.

The two rails B may be connected to the frame A by means of hinge pins N--N' and spring MM With thisarrangement, an T elastic suspension of the wheels is realized during the travelling, while therails R work as a pressing arm swinging about N-N.

hen the vehicle is travelling, the brackets P may be rigidly secured to the rails R, and When the complex i s'in firing order the rails B may be rigidly secured to the frame A.

In the case of Fig. 6 the moving of the rear wheels (or of the only twoexisting wheels in the case of two-wheel vehicles) is efi'ected by causing the wheel pin -hto slide in grooves (or to swing on hinges) connected'to tilting arms --e --f; the sald slidlng movement is operated by 'means of hand-cranks and gears.

After the position of the wheels has been changed from C'-C to C-C, the arms e.f'can be tilted into horizontal position and locked in the new position, in which they serve as reaction means and as a base .for the platform under which the Wheels (in their position C-C arelying.

Both for the solution according to Figs. 1234: and according to Figs. 5 and 6, the suppression of the two front wheels -B-B and of the complete limber may be contemplated in the case of guns of reduced weight.

A vehicle'with two wheels only .is theresult, in which case the wheels must be arranged farther towards the "front (approximately at the barycenter of the complex) to secure equilibrium.

In order to bring the complex into firin position (frame A resting on the ground? the front portion of the frame must then be brought first into contact with the ground, after doing so, the manipulations on the rear wheels are carried out exactly in the same way as described in connection with the rear Wheels with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 and 5 and 6.

All that has been said above, regarding the operation of the levelling feet and of the longitudinal and cross reaction arms etc. holds good also for Figs. 5 and 6 and for the vehicle with two Wheels only.

What I claim and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A gun supporting frame having a set hingedly connected to the front end thereof, an axle pivotally connected with the set, wheels on the axle, said set having bolts thereon for detachable engagement with the frame, said bolts when engaged with the frame serving to hold the wheels in ground engaging position.

2. A gun supporting frame having a set hingedly connected to its front end, a wheeled axle carried by the set, leaf springs carried by the frame, an arched rear axle hingedly connected with the frame, wheels for the rear axle, a support carried by the springs adapted to engage the rear axle to hold the Wheels thereof in operative position, said support when disengaged from the rear axle permitting said axle to swing to lower the frame for ground engaging position.

3. A gun supporting frame having a set hingedly connected with its forward end, and a Wheeled axle pivotally connected with the set, means carried by the set for engaging the frame to hold the set against swinging movement, a rear axle for the frame, and springs carried by the frame and detachably connected With the rear axle.

4. A gun supporting frame having springs carried thereby, rack rails connected to the springs and having upwardly curved rear ends, supports slidable along the rails, a wheel supported axle carried by the support, pinions meshing with the rack rails, and a gear train operable to rotate the pinions to cause the supports to travel longitudinally along the rails and the upper curved ends thereof or reversely.

UGO PAVESI. 

